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We’ve all heard, seen, or even experienced being in the eye of a violent storm. We’ve watched hurricane coverage on the news and marveled at those broadcasts that occur while the “eye” is passing over. Things change drastically in the eye of the storm. Raging winds calm down, torrential rains stop, and the dark clouds break to reveal the warm light of the sun. It really is a beautiful pause, but the reality is that the storm is far from over.

In life, we encounter all kinds of situations and circumstances that begin to beat relentlessly on us. It could be in a relationship, job, health crisis, church or spiritual upheaval. When we are faced with extreme storms in our lives, our behavior often resembles that of someone caught in the midst of a literal storm. We battle and struggle to keep our footing in the raging wind and rain. We learn the direction in which to lean so that we have less chance of getting knocked totally off our feet. We adapt as the elements around us change so that we can survive with the least amount of damage to us or what we hold dear. Survival instincts are heightened and our scope of priorities seems to become more focused, and then it happens; there is an eerie calm that comes over us and a peace that allows us to breathe.

I said earlier the eye of the storm is a “beautiful pause,” because that’s all it is – a pause. This temporary period of peace and calm is simply a chance to take a breath, gather yourself back together and think clearly for a little while. It’s a moment in time in which we are reminded that there IS life out there beyond the storm. It reminds us the sun is still shining and takes us to a place of hope that can strengthen our resolve in the face of knowing there is nothing we can do but endure the impending return of the storm. This eye is where I find myself right now. Standing in a place of peace, being reminded of how beautiful life can be, and creating an even deeper appreciation for every other time of calm when the storms weren’t raging. In this place of peace, it is easy to see clearly the path behind and to gain perspective on the path ahead, even though I cannot direct it.

Facing the second half of the storm is inevitable when standing in the eye. The peace and calm can be deceiving until we consider what is headed straight for us. Survival is not guaranteed, nor can we be certain we will come through unscathed. We may lose many things we hold dear before the storm is past. We may find ourselves faced with decisions that require us to let go of what we have in our hands in order to hold to the things that might literally save our lives. It may not be what we want, but if God did not open up an “evacuation route” before the storm hit, then our only choice is to do our best to lean into Him no matter how scared, discouraged or depleted we may become in the process. He promised He would never leave us and that all things will be worked together for our good. He didn’t say “most things,” or “some things;” He said ALL things.

Being in the eye of my current storms has provided both perspective and peace. There is a shedding of things that don’t matter and a refocusing on the things that do. Am I certain of what else is coming? Not at all. Am I certain the things I hold dear will be preserved or preserved in the way in which I wish them to be? No, I am not. The storm is not over, but I am reminded that I know the Master of the wind. I know the one who has the ability to say, “Peace, be still” to the raging storm and it will obey. The best thing I can do is trust the One who is already working things out. I know He will answer every question in His time and will sustain me through the remainder of this storm.

Sometimes we need the perspective that only the storm can bring. We can become so complacent in our “ruts” in life, often assuming we will always be able to maintain the status quo. We float through our days, almost mindlessly at times, and when the storms roll in, we are suddenly more alert. We may be scared or disrupted by what is happening, but we are no longer able to be oblivious to what is going on around us. We may endure the shakeup in our routines that come when the storm hits. We may have seen it coming and tried to make preparations for riding it out, or it may have hit us without warning. We struggle and react from a survival instinct, and it isn’t easy, but then the eye of the storm moves overhead. It is then that we have that pocket of peace where we can take a deep breath and be reminded of what it feels like when there are no storms on the horizon. We can be refreshed and even strengthened in these beautiful moments of perspective.

The eye of any storm is temporary. It is wonderful and provides the much-needed calm we crave after battling everything that is bombarding us, but it is still temporary. As a person of faith, the eye is a gift that reminds us God is truly in control. It is a chance to turn our eyes back to Him and focus on everything good He has promised us. It is a chance to reflect on what He has already brought us through and be grateful. It is an opportunity for us to set in our hearts that He has not brought us this far to let us down.

Even if the storm causes you to lose things you wanted to keep, don’t give up. No one said life was going to be easy. As a matter of fact, our Father in Heaven told us trouble is a certainty! “I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) This world is full of broken people, including you and me. We are imperfect, and it doesn’t matter what positions we or others hold, what status we have in life or even the background from which we came; we all struggle. You may be struggling with the stages of your own storms right now. Don’t give up. Even if the storm changes the landscape, don’t give up. Most of us are creatures of habit and will do anything to keep from losing the stability of our routines. We will go to great lengths to dig in our heels when God may be trying to move us forward. This fight we put up internally is sometimes the exact reason we need the storms. My grandpa always said, “If you don’t know which way to turn, don’t turn.” That’s great advice and we should never react out of fear or even being uncomfortable. I read a quote earlier this week that said, “Sometimes God closes doors because it’s time to move forward. He knows you won’t move unless your circumstances force you. Trust the transition, God’s got you.”

If you don’t know which way to turn, don’t turn. Be steady and listen for God’s direction, but then be willing to do what He leads you to do, even when you know He is leading you into an area you’d rather not go. But if you are genuinely seeking God’s will for your life, don’t take any path off the table. We cannot seek His will or clarity in direction but then tell Him which paths we will not take. And if He is answering your prayer for clarity but you keep creating your own noise that is making it impossible to hear, then He may allow storms in to shake your priorities back into focus. He will bring you through the first half of the storm into the eye where everything falls into place, and you gain the perspective you need in order to not only survive the storm, but to come out with gratitude for the clarity. My prayer for you is the same as it is for me, that we breathe and press on with courage and total trust that all is already well, even though we can’t see it yet. No matter what the landscape looks like when the storm is over, I pray we can find joy and peace in having made it through, and have a renewed sense of strength and clarity in learning what is truly important and what is not.

How many times have you found yourself overwhelmed and burned out? If you are like me, it’s probably been more than once! I say all the time that we get thrown into so many circumstances in life and even if there are a lot of good things (by our definition), the amount of activity just seems to keep increasing, and it totally wears us out. That’s where I find myself now, and I’m sure many of you can relate.

So how do you know when the candle you’ve been burning at both ends is about to disappear? Well, first there are the obvious clinical signs like:

Lack of productivity, poor performance or feeling like you never accomplish anything

Pessimism or cynicism

Isolation

Although I have been here before, this time around has brought some enlightening revelations that I just had to share.

I will not go into all the many things that are wearing me out these days, but suffice it to say I am being hit from all sides in all kinds of different ways. I have found myself in my car, heading to someplace I have responsibilities (work, church or home), sobbing and telling God, “I can’t do this anymore!” It is simply overwhelming. No one wants to live with a constant barrage of difficult circumstances, and yet when I look around me, it seems like so many of us are in that place most of the time. So I started wondering what I am taking on that is not my responsibility, and this is where my thoughts had to unravel a little so that they could come back together more appropriately.

I was raised with a sense of responsibility and accomplishment. I have always tried to be the best at what I do, but more importantly I have tried to love and serve God and others in every way possible. I’ve been active in church all my life, worked successfully at my job, and had all kinds of other interests and activities. My point is that I am not one to sit on the sidelines, and it is important for me to feel like what I am doing makes a difference for others. That all sounds great, until I began to realize my positive drive becomes warped when my sense of responsibility gets skewed.

Many of us take on far more responsibility than necessary for certain things in life. I realize there are also a lot of people who take NO responsibility for anything which makes the rest of us feel as though it is our job to pick up the slack. After all, if we don’t do it, who will? There is some truth in that question, but we need to be careful that we aren’t falling in love with being the “doer” or getting our fulfillment from being superhuman (or thinking we are). I admit fully I have been in that exact cycle at times in my own life. It feels good to get all kinds of stuff done! It feels good to help everyone. It feels good to plan and execute events, etc., but lately there have been a few situations that have brought to my attention the fact I have started mistaking my desire for my responsibility. That, my friends, is a dangerous mindset, because it means burnout is already upon us or barreling toward us at a high rate of speed! I mentioned that I have been wondering what I’ve taken on that is not my responsibility. What am I doing to myself that is adding to my own burnout these days? The answer is that I have been taking on misplaced responsibilities.

We all have areas where we have to rely on a leader of some kind. (I use the term “leader” loosely, as many so-called leaders do not actually lead.) In our jobs, we have Supervisors/Owners. In our churches we have Pastors. In volunteer work we have Executive Directors. You get where I’m going with this. The problem is when leaders don’t actually LEAD, everything starts falling apart. Even Proverbs 29:18 warns us, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” There are countless examples of organizations, churches or companies that have died off because of a lack of leadership. When that happens, people try to find all kinds of reasons for the failure of a company, church or even a family, when the truth is there was no leadership! When leaders become so engrossed in themselves, or so detached from the people they are supposedly serving, there is chaos. That chaos may not always manifest in external ways, but internally it leaves people feeling alone and without support or direction. That’s when you see informal leaders appear, and often those people are not always operating with the best intentions; sometimes they are seeking control. I will add though, sometimes there are also very good people who are simply trying to step up and keep things going in the absence of appropriately placed leadership. When leaders don’t lead, it begins a vicious cycle that only stops when the he or she takes a hard look in the mirror and changes, or you get a new leader. Aside from one of those two things, “the people perish.” Do you know whose responsibility it is to lead? THE LEADER’S!

So back to the revelation about responsibility and burnout that struck me so hard it changed my thinking. I realized that although the good I have been trying to do in certain areas of life has been sincere and from a heart of love, there was/is an extra element of compensating for what I perceive to be a lack of leadership. I’ve been here before, but this time it was like God opened up the sky and shined a huge light right down on this perception. You see, there are some areas in life where you can only do so much. We should always do what God calls us to do and let Him handle the results, but when there is no life or passion in those around you, people are perishing. There is no amount of effort you or I can put into an organization of any kind that will effectively substitute for a lack of leadership from the person who holds the official position of leader, regardless of the title by which it is called. And if it IS possible for us to keep holding things together when a leader won’t lead, then we have much bigger problems than lifelessness or a lack of passion.

It is a hard thing to realize, no matter how much we love or care about our jobs, churches, volunteer work, etc., there is no amount of effort we can put in that will substitute for leadership. I’m not saying we can’t step up and be leaders in some of these areas, but when THE leader won’t (or can’t) step up and fulfill their responsibilities, our efforts will so often result in a burnout that scorches us at the very core. It not only burns us out, it changes what was intended for good into something that is unhealthy for us. We can only keep pressing on when we realize that some things are not our responsibility.

For a person of faith, God is my ultimate leader and guide. It is my responsibility to follow where He leads and do what He calls me to do. The rest is up to Him. What we do in life is important; there’s no question about that, but how we do it is even more important. When I start feeling like everything rests on my shoulders, I have misplaced my focus and energy. And when that happens, the fire within starts to suffocate and burnout is inevitable. I have had the opportunity to lead others in many different endeavors and situations, and it is a responsibility I take very seriously. I know what it is like to wither under a lack of leadership, and I know that God can do amazing things when we simply submit to Him and let Him do the heavy lifting.

So today I am struggling with the fact that I can’t fix some things that are broken. I’m struggling with the possibility of what God might be doing or how/where He is moving because it is unknown to me, even though He sees what I cannot. I am exhausted and discouraged by the path I have been walking and the lack of passion I see in others that I cannot ignite. It is my responsibility and my honor to pray for the people in leadership that affect me. It is my responsibility to love others and to forgive without judgment or condemnation. It is my responsibility to follow, unashamedly, wherever God leads. It is my responsibility to be and act as I am called to be and act. I will continue to ignite passion wherever God calls me to be a light, but it is time to let go of the responsibilities that He has placed on someone else.

It is my prayer that we will all take a deep breath and remember not everything is our responsibility. It’s time to stop trying to make up for what is lacking in others and step back to refocus. Without vision, the people perish. A lack of leadership can be scary, discouraging, frustrating and depressing, but thank God He has promised to lead and guide us no matter our circumstances. He is a God of passion not apathy, so if you are a leader, then lead! And if your leaders are not leading, then seek God’s direction on the path ahead. If we are seeking Him, He will make it clear.

Well, we’ve just come through the first week of 2018 and have heard the words “Happy New Year” over and over. We rang in the New Year in all different kinds of ways, and now we are back to the day to day grind. Some of us made promises to do something different this year, while others are just trying to not rock the boat and keep things the same. So now what? And why do so many of us focus on making changes at this time of year? Is it because we are unhappy with the current state of our life or is it because we are discontent with decisions we’ve made in the past. Change at the turn of the New Year is enticing because, after all, who doesn’t want a clean slate (or even a “do-over”)?

The New Year brings exciting, and often motivating, potential for change. We are energized for new things, but what do we do with the changes that happen to us? It’s easy to jump in to try and make ourselves or our lives better, but how often do we actually keep the promises we make on January 1st? A study by the University of Scranton revealed that only 8% of people achieve their New Year goals. That means a whopping 92% do not succeed, but why? It’s my opinion the main reason we fail in keeping on track with our goals for changing is because we don’t change US! We don’t change our perspective, so we instead look at our goals as nothing more than a task. Tasks are something you do; resolutions are something you become. We talk about “New Year’s resolutions,” but a resolution is not just an intent, or even commitment, to do something better. It is defined by Webster as “the act of finding an answer or solution to a conflict, problem, etc.” A true resolution is not the intent to get a result; it IS the result. It is change that brings the resolution, not the other way around.

Change is a constant part of our lives. It happens to us all the time, often against our wishes. When things are going well, we don’t want change. When things are going poorly, we want change, but only on our timetable and on our terms. Real change often interrupts our intent to change. We make promises to ourselves (or others) to do something different but then something outside out control happens, and we are derailed. How many of you are dealing with unexpected changes right now? Some of us are dealing with difficult changes in our jobs, families, health, etc. Some of us suddenly find ourselves as patients while others have been thrust into the role of a caregiver. It is difficult when the New Year brings change to you instead of you bringing change to the New Year. There are also positive changes for some of us. Some have become parents, homeowners, financially stable, and many other things. It isn’t about whether or not change will happen, but how we deal with it.

We each decide what we are going to focus on when things change around us. Sometimes all we can see is the loss or what seems to be the destruction of our hopes and dreams, but we do have a choice in our perspective. We need to remember that ALL change brings loss. It’s part of the natural process. In order to have something different, whether good or bad, we have to let go of something else. Sometimes that loss makes us say “good riddance,” but other times it makes us scratch and claw while screaming, “NOOOOO!” But what if we started looking at change differently? What if we could become better at rolling with it?

As a person of faith, I know God is working all things for my good (Romans 8:28). We all know it, but we constantly scramble when things aren’t going the way we would like. We seem to lose sight of the fact that life is full of seasons, ups and downs. Solomon said it beautifully in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8:

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:

a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,

a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,

a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,

a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,

a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,

a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

There is truly a time for everything, and our definitions of good and bad are usually based on limited information. The question is: do we trust the One who actually knows everything or not? Are we going to live through the changes in life like a wind-up toy, going along until it hits a wall and then bounces off and goes another direction until it hits another wall? The reality is that we really do have a choice and the result of our choice will either bring peace or anxiety. If we approach unexpected change as though it is totally up to us to figure out the problem and fix it, then we are going to live a life full of constant stress, because there will always be circumstances we cannot control. On the other hand, if we could realize that what we see as “unexpected” is never a surprise to our Heavenly Father, and that He has promised He is working all things for our ultimate good, then we can live a life of confidence and peace in the midst of every storm. It doesn’t mean it will always feel good, but we can trust that it will eventually all work out.

So back to the fact we have just started a brand new year, if you think this year will be different, you are correct. If you think there will be changes this year, you are also correct. If you think you will have total control over those changes, think again. It is a beautiful thing to take the time to reflect on your life and make plans for positive changes or better decisions. It is good to hope, but we need to make sure our hope is not inappropriately placed in ourselves or others. As the old hymn says, “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ name. On Christ the solid rock I stand. All other ground is sinking sand.” He knows everything we are going through and what is to come. He cares intimately about every aspect of our lives as His children. He has the power to handle any and everything in our lives, and He will always work things out when it is for our ultimate good.

So I wish you all an amazing 2018! It is my prayer that all of us can learn to lean on what we know in our hearts instead of going it alone. We can become better parents, children, employees, bosses, church members, pastors or whatever other role we may fill. The best way to do that is to fall back into our Father’s arms and let Him show us the paths to walk. And when the next January 1st rolls around, we will be able to share not only our hopes for another year, but our resolutions – our results – from the journey we are embarking on right now. That, my friends, is what a resolution is all about.

Like this:

Sometimes you just don’t know what to do or when to do it. Lately, it seems I keep finding myself in that position. My grandpa used to say, “If you don’t know which way to turn, don’t turn.” I know exactly what he meant. I personally do not believe we should make decisions just for the sake of change. I believe we need to have that pull from within and not be guided simply by emotion. We need to listen to that still, small voice that whispers to us which way we should turn. Waiting on direction is good, but this isn’t really about the act of waiting. This is about the way in which we wait, and in the way God brings us through (or out of) very difficult and distressing situations.

Life is just hard sometimes. We all go through stages where we don’t see a way out of situations that are draining us of our joy and peace. It might be a relationship, a job, financial difficulties, our health or a host of other things. No matter the source, we just can’t see a way out, and sometimes the “light at the end of the tunnel” really IS a train. As a person of faith, I truly believe that God can make a way through any circumstance, no matter how dire it may appear. After all, there is one account after another where He did exactly that for his people. Sometimes they were grand deliverances and sometimes they were quiet, but what came to mind for me today were two specific stories of God parting the literal waters for His people to cross over. Two miraculous times, and yet there is something very different about HOW He did it. This is where I find myself these days: wondering if I am standing at the Red Sea or the Jordan River.

Most of you have at least heard of the story in Exodus 14 of the people of Israel being trapped in front of the Red Sea with no way out. There was impassible terrain on both sides, they were being pursued from behind by Pharaoh’s army, and there was a sea in front of them. Death and destruction seemed certain, but God had actually led them there with a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night. They didn’t end up there by accident; God purposely and unmistakably led them. They were exactly where He wanted them to be, with no options of escape by their own power. He did it because He wanted them to see HIS power and deliverance in a way they could not deny. They were scared. They were probably terrified when they looked up and saw the army charging toward them. Moses told them to stand still and they would see the salvation of the Lord. Then he reiterated that they just needed to be still because the Lord would fight for them. (Exodus 14:13-14) God told Moses to stretch out his staff over the sea, and the waters would divide. Moses did what he was told, and God divided the waters. The people crossed over on TOTALLY DRY ground! Amazing, right?! There was no way out, but then a way miraculously opened up before them to be delivered from certain death.

None of us want to be faced with situations that seem like they will destroy us. We don’t want to be in a place where we have to trust God to make a way. We don’t want to have to wait and trust Him to deliver us in those times. We just want out! So we complain and grumble (just like the Israelites) about how God doesn’t see what we are forced to endure or, even worse, that He sees our struggles and doesn’t care! I have experienced occasions where I had no way out, but God opened up a path for me that I couldn’t have opened for myself. When it happens, it is thrilling! It is a mind-blowing experience that restores and strengthens my faith. It reminds me that nothing is impossible, and that God will always provide direction and make a way, even when it isn’t on my timetable.

Lately, I have been feeling pretty defeated in some areas of my life. Sometimes I am discouraged, and sometimes I am downright overwhelmed and depressed. Like many of us, I try to wait until I finally see the ocean part so I can walk through on dry ground to the other side. I believe God will impress on my heart the direction(s) I am supposed to take, and I am convinced He will make a way. So I stand and watch. The wind blows and the waves churn, and I watch. I look behind me and see the enemies closing, but I hold to my faith and trust there will be a way. I watch, but I have learned something very valuable along the way: Sometimes God doesn’t part the sea; He parts the river. Let me explain…

I mentioned there were TWO times where God parted literal waters to make a way for His people. The first was the Red Sea, but the other was Jordan River. The people of Israel were still journeying along the path God was directing them, carrying the Ark of the Covenant (Joshua chpt 3). They arrived at the edge of the Jordan River, and there was no way for them to cross. This was the time of year the river ran so high and swiftly that it would overrun its banks. It was a rushing, flooding river! God instructed Joshua that when the people come to the brink of the flowing waters of the Jordan, the priests who were carrying the Ark were to “stand still IN the Jordan.” Joshua passed the message along, and they did as they were told. As a result, the waters parted, and the people passed across on DRY GROUND! Sound familiar? Wait until God tells you to do otherwise and He will make the way clear. There is a glaring similarity in these two events: God’s direction was to “stand still” and He would provide a way. On the other hand, there is also a glaring difference. At the Red Sea, the people were to stand still and watch God open the path ahead. The sea parted before anyone stepped into it. At the Jordan River, the men were told to stand still IN the Jordan first and then God would open the path. The waters didn’t part until AFTER they stepped in.

So back to my life (and probably some of yours). I look around me, and most of the time I think “when and how can I get out of this?” I am often exhausted, stressed and sometimes even afraid. Sometimes I am angry, not only that God hasn’t delivered me from my circumstances, but that He actually LED me to a place where I can’t see any way out on my own power. We all find ourselves in places like this where we are completely stuck. It wears on us. It wears on me, but then my faith kicks in, and I remember that God is always leading me. Sometimes He leads me to wait, and sometimes He leads me to walk forward. He IS leading. The question is: Am I actually following?

Many of us are “leaders” in one way or another. We have positions in our jobs, churches and homes that require us to step up and lead. Many people, however, do not see themselves as anything but a follower. They have no desire to lead (in the traditional sense) or be responsible for others. Neither of these types of people are better than the other, but for those who fall into the latter group, don’t fool yourself into thinking you don’t struggle with control issues. The reality is that the vast majority of humanity desires (and pursues) the ability to control their own lives and their own journeys. We may not want to lead others, but we dowant to be able to direct our own paths. Let me put it this way: We want freedom. We want to choose what we do and when we do it. We don’t want to feel trapped or stuck in any area of our lives, and, too often, we view waiting as being stuck. Waiting goes against our nature when things aren’t going well. We are hard-wired to do something, or make something happen, and have come to view anything less as laziness. We overestimate our intelligence (no matter how high or low your IQ may be) and set off in a direction based on a list of pros and cons. We think through our options and make what we believe is the best decision. In those rare occasions that we find ourselves temporarily without options, we may wait, but we do not do it gracefully. As people of faith, we want to be delivered and for God to clear the path ahead the minute we face the ocean or the raging rivers of our lives. We want to walk through on dry ground, but we cannot do that unless we first stand still.

Standing still isn’t easy. Waiting for God to open doors and paths in our lives isn’t easy, but knowing where we are supposed to stand still is an even tougher dilemma for us. Are we (am I) standing at the edge of the sea or the raging river? How do I know if I am waiting on God to move, or if God is waiting on me to step into the water first? Are we at a standoff of faith? Am I misinterpreting my role in this journey? Questions flood our minds when we are struggling. We question why God isn’t opening the path before us or why He doesn’t seem to be moving. We strain our eyes for signs of where we are supposed to go or what we are supposed to do. Do we wait or do we leap? My friends, God is not the author of confusion! (1 Cor 14:33) He is continually leading us in all different ways – some are obvious and some are subtle, but all are powerful if we are willing to follow. God may drop a sign as obvious as a pillar of fire or cloud in front of you and say “follow that,” or you may have to rely simply on His words. You may be led to a dead end and told to stand still on the banks of the ocean and wait, or you may be told to step INTO the waters first and wait for them to part. I think most of us probably prefer waiting for the path to open before we embark upon it. We like to see it before we walk it. There are some, however, who actually prefer jumping into the river first and then seeing the path emerge.

I’ve been at the “Red Sea” before. The stress of looking around and seeing no way out, while an enemy is barreling down on you to destroy you, is overwhelming. There is an urgency and survival nature that kicks in and creates panic. “GET ME OUT, I’M GONNA DIE!” Standing still, feeling like a sitting duck, is terribly difficult in those moments. We are in fight or flight mode, and being still is contrary to everything in us because time is not on our side. That is precisely why God tells us to stand still at those moments. We need to stop and quit freaking out over what is happening. We need to stand still and remember God led us to this place for a reason, and if we will stand still at that point, we will see the “salvation of the Lord.” Take a breath. You followed unmistakable direction in good faith, and God just needs you to calm down and let Him do the heavy lifting. Be still and let Him show you the way.

The “Jordan River” brings a total different type of stress. I’ve been there too. There isn’t the same urgency of survival that happens at the “Red Sea.” You aren’t trapped and no one is actively pursuing you to destroy you. You are simply lacking direction. It isn’t hard for us to stand still in these times because the status quo can be an addictive drug. When there isn’t an urgent threat, it’s easy to just stick with what you know, but we find ourselves in situations where we are driven to fear, depression, and anxiety. We know God has the ability to deliver us, but we can see different options or paths for that to happen. As a result, we become paralyzed because we don’t want to give up what we have if God hasn’t shown us the path yet. We don’t make the leap because we fear we will be worse off than we are now. “Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t,” right? So we give up joy, peace and contentment for the sake of stability and safety. The stress of the Jordan doesn’t come from having to calm yourself to be still in the face of a charging enemy; it comes from having to get the courage to let go of safety and stability FIRST and then wait for God to reveal the path. Let me add one other thought here. God told them to step into the raging flood waters and THEN to stand still. He didn’t tell them to step in and keep walking. Our tendency at the Jordan is to say, “I know God wants me to step into the river and He will show me the way.” What we forget is the very next step after leaving the safety of dry land, is to stand still in the unknown. The fear and anxiety that comes with the Jordan comes from letting go of a sure thing and seemingly risking everything. It comes in doing making the leap and then having to calm yourself as the flood waters rush around you. It comes in trying to stand while the force of your circumstances are trying to pull you under. Instead of asking God “Why did you bring me here to be destroyed,” we ask ourselves, “What was I thinking?!” We start questioning if we did the right thing, because destruction seems certain as a result of our decision. We experience the elation of courage, only to be hit with the panic of survival. We step in, but when the way isn’t immediately made clear, we step back out and wonder why we still don’t see a path. That isn’t God’s fault; it’s ours.

So the question remains – Am I, or are we, at the Red Sea or the Jordan River. To answer that question, you need to look at where you’ve been.

Have you been following God’s direction with a certainty in your heart that it is Him, only to find yourself in a place where it seems there is no way out? Are you frantic and worried? If so, take a breath. Remind God of His promises to take care of you (Deut 31:6; Matt 6:26-34). Calm yourself and stand still and watch what God is about to do. You will be walking on dry ground soon, and the circumstances that were chasing you down to destroy you will be drowned in the sea behind you.

On the other hand, have you been following God as he leads you to where He wants you to be, only to find yourself faced with a barrier or circumstance that confuses you? Is there something in your way that is causing you to look at other options, thinking you must have misinterpreted God’s leading up to this point? Are you stressed or anxious, but leaning instead on safety and stability, settling for less than what you know God has for you? If so, take heart! Remind yourself that God is not the author of confusion, and He is simply waiting for you to move forward and step into the water with confidence – even without knowing for sure the outcome at that point. Just because it’s scary doesn’t mean it isn’t where you are supposed to be. The waters may be pulling at you once you step in but stand still and watch what God is about to do. (2 Cor 4:8-9 – 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed) You, too, will soon be walking on dry ground, safely and with clear direction.

No matter where you find yourself today, standing at the Red Sea or the Jordan, don’t panic. God is with you, leading you forward. He isn’t holding His will behind His back and making you play a game to try and figure it out. If you truly want direction, and are in fellowship with your Father, then He will reveal it to you. You may still be asking, “But how do I know?” Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path.” Notice the little word in the middle – “all. That little word leaves no room for creating your own directions or forging your own path. Are you the master of your destiny? Yes, absolutely. You have complete freedom of choice to live your life how you choose. You can go it alone, bumping into walls, frustrated and always seeking direction, or you can acknowledge God in ALL your ways and He will provide the direction for which you are seeking. If you want to know which way to go, then get humble, surrender your will to His in every area, and then listen to that still, small voice within. He has promised He will lead us; we simply need to be willing to stand still first, and then follow where He leads.

Our society places a lot of value on beauty and outward appearance. We think nothing of having work done (or of others having work done) to try and circumvent the effects of aging, and yet we are paying less and less attention to how we look on the inside. We are losing our ability to be civil and courteous, and nowhere is this truth more apparent than on Facebook and other social media sites. Over the past 6 months or so, I have been spending less time on Facebook and much of the time I’ve spent was, or is, hiding posts from people on ALL sides of varying issues (political or other). My tolerance for the intolerance shown by so many people on so many subjects has really worn thin. Before I go any further, let me just say that if you think I’m one of those people who just wants to stick their heads in the sand and not care, or are not willing to be engaged in thoughtful or even passionate discussion, I can assure you nothing is further from the truth. I choose to be very engaged, just not online.

These days, there is turmoil all around us. For one thing, the recent election cycle in our country has really taken a toll on most people and some people are very concerned – some for the same reasons and some for very different ones. Then we look around us at other divides caused by different belief systems (whether religious or not), and it seems we are in a constant state of disruption and disagreement. I have news for you: It has always been this way! We think our debates are deeper or more enlightened. We think the consequences are greater. Guess what? Every generation from the beginning of time has thought the same things. And yes, people have always fought (and disagreed) passionately over what they believed. From the beginning of time, there have always been people who were nasty and mean when trying to prove a point or argue a position, but it was different. They didn’t have access to instant communication with the entire world! We are bombarded with opinions and even mean-spirited lies about different positions or events. We have instant information when something happens, and sometimes that information is not always accurate. That’s part of what is wrong with instant news. Stories used to have time to develop before everyone heard something and reacted. We’ve seen many stories that turned out not to be as they were originally portrayed, but it was too late to stop the reactions or public opinion – even when the facts finally come out. On top of that, there is so much “fake” news that now exists for the sole purpose of stirring people up, or even worse, slandering or attacking them.

We live in a world where we can fire off our opinions immediately online, almost with impunity. We no longer have to resort to picking up the phone and calling someone to discuss something. We don’t have to wait until we are “around the water cooler” or face to face with someone before we throw out what we think. There is something very valuable about waiting before we speak or give an opinion. It gives us time to rethink HOW we want to give that opinion or state that comment. We have lost our civility, and it has only escalated the meanness and fueled the fires of anger and hate. Then we start choosing sides and refuse to listen to anyone who disagrees. It’s true in our government as well as our own lives. It needs to stop, but there are days when I fear we are too far gone.

Online we lose so much of what makes us human. We lose tone, facial expression and body language. We lose accountability, and most of all we lose the trait of being courteous. It’s easy to be rude when you don’t have to look people in the eye. It’s easy to tear people down (including those we claim to love and care about) from behind a computer or phone screen. There are no bounds to what people say or how far they will go to destroy someone who thinks, believes or lives differently. As I mentioned earlier, even if we do not actively engage in the arguing, it is affecting us. Even though we think we are ignoring it, we still feel its effects. Think of it this way: If you were in a room of people where the noise level and arguing (or fighting) was that loud, you would most likely leave even if you had an opinion that you wouldn’t mind discussing civilly. Most of us would condemn the behavior we were witnessing and refuse to be part of it, but social media is different. We’ve turned differing opinions into blood-sport. We don’t care if a news story is real or fake; we use it as a weapon to go after people who disagree with us. We’ve become more rude and intolerant as we hide behind our devices. And that goes for ALL people of ALL beliefs and opinions. We don’t walk away from people who are rude or aggressive anymore, instead we devolve into them ourselves. We forget that we are talking to human beings, and instead treat each other like animals. We are bullies. We are arrogant and insensitive asses. We devolve into everything we say we aren’t or that we preach against. We watch our friends tear each other down and just sit there. We think, because we don’t read or react to the garbage that rolls through our feeds, that it isn’t affecting us. But it is. It wears on us until we finally crack. I’ve fallen victim to it on several occasions myself. “It” being that almost uncontrollable urge to fight back or snipe back at someone who is being unreasonable or, God forbid, wrong! I’ve given into it on occasion, but it has almost always come with regret at some point.

The truth is, Facebook has become Face-less book. We see photos but not each other. We’ve become social voyeurs. Voyeurs see others as objects and have no problem victimizing them as a result. We, ourselves, have become less human and yet feel more entitled at the same time. Everyone screams about intolerance, yet everyone IS intolerant. Why? Because it’s easy. Because even though we might love the people in our feeds, we feel faceless to them too. The old saying that “character is what you do when no one is looking” is very true. People sometimes ask, “What would you do if you knew you wouldn’t get caught?” The answers are always interesting, but we are actually living in an age where we have created places where we think we can act like Neanderthals because we can’t be touched. And then we wonder why our relationships (personally or professionally) are suffering. We are so used to letting words fly out of our mouths without thought for others that we’ve started doing it in our real lives. It was bound to happen, and yet we never saw it coming. I see people who should be leaders acting like children, or even worse, teenagers whose only concern is being part of in the “in” club. I see people snickering in corners about fellow workers, family members, church members or friends because their minds are being trained to think it’s normal to behave that way. Just like we do on social media, we are watching it even if we aren’t actively participating. And just like on Facebook, it is affecting us whether we want to admit it or not.

So why does it matter? It matters because we are conditioning ourselves in ways that are harming us as individuals and as a society. Our “real” lives are in turmoil. We hear of tragedies almost daily where someone has attacked or even killed others. We hear of relationships of all kinds falling apart and everyone is more concerned with blaming each other and making sure they are the one who comes out “looking good.” We watch kids bully and be mean to each other but then whine and cry when someone does the same to them. We wring our hands and wonder why this selfish behavior has become so common, but we refuse to look in the mirror and admit we are part of the problem. Whether we are actually fighting or being a voyeur, we are part of the problem. We are more and more desensitized which makes us less and less self-aware. In our “real” lives, we are becoming quicker to point out others who are being rude, offensive or a host of other negative traits while not seeing our own.

I said earlier there are days I fear we are too far gone, but there IS hope! We actually can change, but we first have to want to change. There is a passage of scripture (James chapter 4) that affected me very deeply the first time I read it when I was a teenager. The entire chapter is great admonition as to how we should live, but it ends with this verse: “Therefore, to the one that knows to do good and doesn’t do it, to him it is sin.” We forget that not doing the things that are right and good are just as sinful in God’s eyes as doing all the wrong things. It’s time for us to stand up for what is good instead of defending our positions. It’s time for us to “think on these things” that are “true, honest, just, pure, lovely and of good report.” (Phil 4:8) We must remember that our hearts and the hearts of others are not protected behind a wall of perceived immunity. We are ALL humans. We are all imperfect and we all are tempted to get caught up in the drama with which we are constantly bombarded. Instead, let us hold each other close in heart. Let us truly love each other instead of tearing each other down. Let’s purge our social media feeds AND our lives of the things that continually remind us of how we are different we are and start looking at how we are all the same. Yes, it’s time for a “face”lift of a different kind, so I will leave you with this: “Therefore, we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” (2 Corinthians 4:16)

There is a very familiar song from a very popular movie that continually tells us to “let it go.” Not a bad thought considering how many things in life seem to take us down in one way or another. We are hit continually with circumstances beyond our control – jobs, family issues, health issues, even the political climate – all of it can just wear us down to the point we truly feel like we cannot get up one more time. After all, why get up when life is just going to knock you back down again? That seems like a very valid question, doesn’t it? Of course it does, until you remember something all people of faith forget: Our circumstances may be out of our our control, but they are never out of God’s.

I have written a lot about the struggle with trying to control everything in our lives, to mitigate the effects of the world around us. We save to avoid financial collapse. We work out and eat right to avoid illness and disease. We go into professions that we don’t want to be in because they provide stability. We do all kinds of things to keep from being at the mercy of the elements. The truth is we can do everything perfectly and think we are prepared for (and protected from) almost anything, but we aren’t. I’m not saying it doesn’t help, but saving won’t prevent a financial disaster if the conditions are right. Eating right and exercising won’t keep you from getting sick. There are people every day who are examples of perfect health who suddenly drop dead from a heart attack, or find out they have cancer or some other dreaded disease. We don’t want to consider it, but it seems we really are at the mercy of the elements. Or are we? How do we walk through this life, bombarded with situations that shake us to our core or bring us to our knees? How do we keep moving when things fall apart? How do we press on, when we’ve been betrayed or let down by someone we love? How do we lift our heads when we lose jobs, homes, or even families? How do we actually let it go?

We tend to hold on to things; it is in our nature. We even hold onto things that are harmful for/to us. How many people remain in terrible relationships because they can’t let go? How many jobs do we stay in because we can’t let go? How many places do we live in because we can’t let go? We like the familiar, even when it’s bad. We like to be in control, or have the illusion of control. Sometimes the illusion of control is more powerful than actually being in control. We mix up those two things often – actual control vs the illusion of control. We rationalize our hoarding of things or relationships and then wonder why we feel so bogged down, stressed out or depressed. God never meant for us to hoard things in this world. He never wanted us to put down roots here when our forever home is actually with Him. “Yeah, yeah, but that’s just a nebulous concept when I’m living in the NOW.” We really struggle with letting go of anything! The things we consider “good” in life (money, secure jobs, good relationships, homes and possessions, etc.) are hard to let go of because we think if we “let it go” that means we lose it. The things we consider “bad” (money, secure jobs, bad relationships, possessions we’ve acquired, etc.) are hard to let go of because they are familiar and serve a purpose for us – even if that purpose is less than desirable. What we have is what we know, and we don’t like to consider the unknown. We don’t want to consider that letting go means everything might change. Letting go of the “good” means we lose and letting go of the “bad” means everything will be unfamiliar. After all, either way, what if we let it go and then don’t make it? What if we don’t survive? What if, what if, what if?

What if? Therein lies the problem. We don’t know the “what ifs,” but as children of God we know that HE does. He knows what is around the corner and tells us over and over to trust Him even though His ways are not our ways. As people of faith, we talk a good talk but our “what ifs” paralyze us and keep us from letting go. We can’t let it go because we don’t trust the One in whom we claim to place our trust. The truth is that it is impossible to let go without having trust in something higher than ourselves. That is true not just for people of faith, but for everyone. We tend to make our decisions from a place of emotion rather than a place of reason, but God wants us to look at what He has said/promised to us and then trust Him to keep His word. Trust is not an emotion; it is a decision. We can trust and let things go, even if we are fearful or apprehensive. We can have faith even though our knees are shaking. We can decide to let go and trust, even when we may feel like it’s crazy to do so. Trust (or faith) and fear are not mutually exclusive. We can let go and be afraid. We can let go and be sad. We can let go and feel all kinds of things, but we cannot let go without trust. No one can – people of faith or not.

Life is difficult. We were never promised it would be easy, but it can be rich and fulfilling if we can learn to let things go. When we learn to let go, we also learn to embrace. Hurts that we have endured through various means or people can cripple us forever if we let them. People who have let us down, angered us, treated us poorly or unfairly, or rejected us completely don’t have to diminish us. Situations that have (or are) less than perfect don’t have to destroy us. We don’t have to hold onto our grudges or hurts. We don’t even have to hold on to our expectations that have gone unfulfilled. We probably need to readjust those expectations anyway. We, especially as people of faith, have a problem. We hold ourselves in such high regard that we feel like we have a right to hold onto our anger and hurt. We think so highly of ourselves that we feel entitled to NOT let things go. We think it is our right to make sure everything is eventually evened out in our world and that we are treated fairly, and we spend a lot of our time, energy and resources to ensure it happens. I have news for you: making things “fair” is not your responsibility. Do you know what IS your responsibility? Loving God, loving each other and letting things go.

The key to being able to let go is in rationally, reasonably and logically taking God at His word, in spite of our emotions or our desire for control. It isn’t an easy thing to do, and I struggle with it continually, but it doesn’t change the truth of it. Emotions are powerful things that can drive us into all kinds of states. They are volatile and yet they are a very real part of who we are and how God created us to be. Every emotion we experience, God himself has experienced. Every betrayal and hurt, every anger and fear, He has experienced them all. Yes, in the fleshly manifestation as Jesus Christ, He had to deal with every emotion we have dealt with – or ever will. He was betrayed by those He trusted, his closest friends. He wept with sadness and grief over losses during His earthly life. He was terrified in the garden of Gethsemane as He looked at what He was going to have to endure. But you know what? He let it go. He let all of it go and died for us anyway, in spite of how He was treated or how we would dismiss Him today. He loved us even though He knew we would often reject, disobey and even hate Him. How was He able to endure such emotion and still press on? Because He knew the truth and rested in it. He knew He had a higher purpose and the end result was worth it all, regardless of how he felt emotionally. When we are able to live from a place of knowing the truth and being willing to walk in it, regardless of how we feel, THAT is when we are able to finally trust and let go.

So I guess I will leave you with what I desire for myself as well as all of you. I pray we all can step back and realize just what we give up when we are afraid to lose what we already have. Stop trying to cling to the familiar or to your desire to see that others get what you think they deserve. Quit holding onto your wounds as badges of honor and be willing to let the wounds in your heart heal. Let it go. Open your heart and let go of the pain from those who didn’t love you and embrace the One who does. And when the circumstances in your life start overwhelming you, or you feel that need for revenge start to rise within you, let it go. It isn’t worth it. We were never meant to carry around the weight of the world with us. We can do exactly what God’s word says in 1 Peter 5:7 – “Cast your cares on Him because He cares for you.” When we do that, we can still see the sun, no matter how the storms may rage around us. We can say, with great assurance, “Here I stand in the light of day. Let the storm rage on, the cold never bothered me anyway.”

There is no mistake that life throws problems at us over and over. We are going to have trouble in this life. It is simply a fact, and if you are like me, then you spend a lot of time and energy trying to figure out solutions to whatever problems arise. We do not like to be troubled by finances, illness, relationship issues or anything else that results in us feeling bad or stressed. Stress caused by life’s trouble is something most of us want resolution to as quickly as possible. So what do we do? Well, that’s where it gets a little more grey, especially for people of faith!

We are assured by Jesus, himself that trouble is going to come. In John 16:33, Jesus ends His words to His disciples by saying, “These things I’ve spoken to you , that you might have peace. In this world you will have trouble and trials, but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” In Matthew 6:25-34, He tells us not to worry about things because He knows what we need and will take care of us completely. Then why do we lose so much peace when trouble comes, and why do we spend so much effort trying to come up with a solution to our problems?

Most of us are intelligent people, and God has blessed us with the ability to reason things through and solve all kinds of problems. Our intelligence is a gift directly from God, but so often we take that intelligence and then begin to think that we know better than He does. That sounds stupid when you say it out loud, but consider this: How often do you make decisions based on your own reasoning? How many times have your taken a job because “it makes sense” after considering all the angles? I mean, after all, it’s more money. That’s a no-brainer, right? How many times have you had issues in a relationship and you spend all kinds of time and energy walking through each scenario, trying to ensure you find a way to work things out? Have you ever made a purchase because you think it’s the best fit for you (whether car, house, computer, or anything else you can think of)? My point is that most of us go through life making decisions all the time based on what WE think, without any input from our Heavenly Father. I do it more than I care to admit. I look at a situation, consider all the facts, and then begin a process of finding a solution. It’s only after I hit a brick wall that I turn to God and ask for His help or His input, instead of starting at that point.

When I am faced with problems, no matter what area of life they are in, I become almost obsessed with gathering information and figuring out a solution. People close to me have seen it first-hand. I love puzzles, and I LOVE figuring out the answer to a problem. And you know what? I am good at it. God blessed me with a great brain that can see trends and spot paths through a jumbled mess that will lead to an effective solution. It has served me well in many ways, and most certainly in my professional life. I don’t say that to stroke my ego, but rather as a statement of fact. It’s been that way ever since I was a child. The problem with that ability is that it becomes very easy to rely on that rather than to trust God to provide a solution to whatever I am facing. I recently had a very profound revelation regarding this issue with which many of us struggle. I was listening to a message and the speaker said, “God didn’t call me to understand; He called me to believe.” That statement literally stopped me in my tracks because God doesn’t continually tell us to “understand.” He continually tells us to believe and trust Him. As I stood there considering this statement, I suddenly realized the reason I have to always know the whys or wear myself down analyzing and assessing every situation in my life. It’s because I actually don’t believe God most of the time. Every person of faith would always answer “yes” if asked, “Do you believe God?” But do we really? Do I believe God has a plan for each of us – or for me specifically? Yes, I do. Then why do I waste so much time stressed out over figuring out solutions to every problem that comes up? Because no matter what I SAY, my actions show that I think God is not capable of providing a solution or taking care of me. My mindset, like many of yours, is that God gave me a brain and He expects me to use it. Yes, that’s true, but I am not to use it to the exclusion of trusting Him. I am not supposed to come up with plan A-Z to make sure I have everything covered no matter what happens. Quite frankly, that’s not my job. My job is to ask God for clarity on where He is leading and then trust Him, even if I don’t understand how it is all going to work out. That is what faith is – the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1).

Look, I’m not advocating taking leave of your senses and just sitting down in the yard and saying, “I’m not going to do anything because God promised to take care of me.” He expects us to work, but He also expects us to trust Him for the results and not ourselves. We often hear the admonition that we need to “save for a rainy day.” Have you ever asked someone for the definition of a “rainy day?” Better yet, have you ever asked yourself that question? The answers vary but here are the most common:

The day something goes wrong like my car breaks down.

The day I get sick and have to pay medical bills.

The day I lose my job.

The day I retire and want to be able to still live comfortably.

So we do what we can to put ourselves in a position where we feel safe from trouble that might arise. We work long hours for employers who don’t care about us and sacrifice precious time with our family and friends in order to put ourselves in a better financial situation. We do the same thing when it comes to building up a “savings account” emotionally with people, so that if something goes wrong in our relationship, we have something to fall back on – all the times we helped or were good (in our definition) to that person or group of people. We try to save up all kinds of grace in every area of our lives so that we are prepared for any negative situations in the future. We think, reason and plan so that one day we can relax. But that leaves one huge, missing piece of the equation: Believing God.

So what is the true definition of a rainy day? If we are really honest, it is the day God doesn’t bless us anymore. The truth is if God stops blessing me, there’s nothing I can do to store up enough (financially or otherwise)! Ouch, that hurts! Saving, being smart in your decisions – whether financial or otherwise – is a Godly trait. He didn’t call us to be stupid or NOT think things through. As a matter of fact, His word tells us often to “consider” things and to count the cost. We don’t ever want to appear stupid, but faith and belief often appear stupid to those around us – even other people of faith – because God’s ways are not our ways. He doesn’t do things like we would do, but the results are far better when we follow Him even when we don’t have all the information yet or understand the reasons why He is leading us in a certain direction. We are to use the gifts He has given us, including our intelligence, but not as a replacement for trusting Him to do exactly what He has promised to do. When we take it upon ourselves and believe our well-being in any situation is dependent on us figuring out the best solution, our plans will most often fail. It is burden God did not call me to bear. It is a job He did not call me to do. I’ll say it again, “God did not call me to understand; He called me to BELIEVE!” Belief means trusting. It means taking God at His word and then acting accordingly. See, we miss that last part. We might reflect that outwardly, but in our hearts, we do not act accordingly. I should speak for myself. If I did, I would not find myself saddled with weights that seem too great to bear. I wouldn’t be angry when others don’t “get what they deserve.” I wouldn’t be exhausted from the mental energy spent on constantly trying to solve problems. Instead I would have joy and peace, no matter the circumstances. I would actually BELIEVE Matthew chapter 6 and my yoke would actually be easy and my burden light! (Matt 11:30).

I needed the revelation of that one sentence I heard this week. I needed to be reminded that my unending struggle for gathering all the information and then leaning on MY own understanding for a solution needs to stop. There is a better way – a perfect way. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.” (Prov 3:5-6). The most profound word in those two verses is the word “all.” I need to do it in ALL things, with ALL my heart because He has promised, without condition, to take care of me when I do. I need to let go of the overwhelming need to have every contingency plan possible. There is something truly liberating in the realization that the stress in my life does not come from the situations that arise, but in the way in which I react to them. It is freeing and empowering to finally, after all these years, realize WHY I always have to know why. It’s because somewhere in my mind, I think I can figure out a plan that will work better and makes more sense than the One who knows everything, sees everything and has the power to DO anything, except override my free will. If I would just stop thinking for a while and ask God for clarity, I will have it. The scary thing is the clarity and direction I receive may not make sense based on what I see in front of me. My intellect will scream it is stupid and can’t work. Instead, my intellect and reason should be screaming that God has promised and He cannot lie! Verse after verse in the Bible reflects that truth, and my God-given ability to think would be better utilized to understand His word and exactly what He has promised, then act accordingly by simply trusting Him and following where He leads.

God sometimes leads exactly where our own reasoning would take us, but sometimes He leads completely contrary to it. As a result, we are often left in a gray area where we are unsure if we are interpreting His leading correctly. Is this really the way God is leading me to go, act, or respond, or am I clouding His direction with my own desires and intelligence? Our reasoning will often interfere with the clarity God is providing and cloud our vision. That is precisely why we are told that “we walk by faith and not by sight.” God honors the motives of our hearts. If I have talked with Him and reach a decision based truly on what I believe He is leading me to do, I will be blessed, even if I misunderstood. He will simply pick me back up, dust me off, and point me in the right direction again…over and over. Why? Because He loves me and has promised to give me wisdom if I will just ask for it.

James 1:5-7 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.” (NIV) The other side of that equation is that if we will simply ask in faith, and not doubt, God will provide the direction through every situation in our lives. We can let Him do all the heavy lifting and sit back and relax. We can do what He asks us to do and not worry about the rest because He will provide every solution we need. It may not be the solution we wanted, but it will always be the one that is best. Remember, He did not call us to understand; He called us to believe!